Clinton Stresses Differences In Parties' Schools Agendas

There is a vast difference between the two leading presidential
candidates when it comes to education, President Clinton told teachers
gathered here for the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

Mr. Clinton urged about 250 members of the American Federation of
Teachers and the National Education Association who are serving as
convention delegates this week to support Democratic candidates,
including, of course, Vice President Al Gore, the party's presumptive
nominee for president.

“I know he will be a ferocious advocate for children,
teachers, and schools,” Mr. Clinton said of his vice president.
The challenge is “making sure people know what is at
stake,” he added.

Mr. Clinton made his remarks during a special event hosted by the
two teachers' unions on the opening day of the Democratic National
Convention. Later in the day, the president gave a rousing address in
which he sized up his presidency as a successful one and praised Mr.
Gore.

During the teachers' union event at a Los Angeles hotel on Monday
afternoon, the president told the crowd that he is proud of the new
programs created during his time in office, including the Goals 2000
education reform initiative, and in increases in some student test
scores.

But he warned that there is still plenty of work to be completed
after he leaves office. Educators, he said, will have to lead the fight
for continued funding of initiatives like his plan to hire 100,000 new
teachers and reduce class sizes. And, Mr. Clinton added, they must
continue to press for a school construction measure that has been
languishing in Congress for more than three years.

The Republicans, Mr. Clinton said, oppose federal school
construction funding and the 100,000 new teachers initiative. He
charged that the GOP wants to create a federal voucher program, which
would allow students to use federal dollars to attend the public or
private schools of their choice. The teachers’ unions adamantly
oppose such plans.

A Fond Farewell

In addition to giving Mr. Clinton an opportunity to rally the crowd
for Mr. Gore, the event also served as a farewell of sorts for Mr.
Clinton from the two major teachers’ unions, which have been
among his greatest supporters for the past eight years. In high
spirits, the audience gave him several standing ovations, and several
delegates yelled out, “We love you Bill,” and “Four
more years.”

“Mr. President, you did not disappoint,” said Sandra
Feldman, the president of the 1-million-member AFT. “You truly
have been the education president.”

Afterward, some of the delegates said they would sorely miss Mr.
Clinton’s charisma and style, although they expressed confidence
that Mr. Gore would continue Mr. Clinton’s initiatives in
education.

“He’s so sincere,” Lorretta Johnson, a delegate
from Baltimore, said of the president. “But I think Al Gore is
going to be a wonderful candidate.”

Diane Shust, the NEA’s manager of federal relations, said,
“It makes us very sad that he’s leaving—I wish we
could keep [Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley] another eight
years.”

In addition to his support for Vice President Gore, Mr. Clinton
named several congressional candidates he is backing, reminding the
delegation that “every House and Senate seat counts.” And
naturally, he could not resist throwing in a pitch for one very
well-known Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate—his wife,
Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“I hope you’ll forgive me if I put in a little extra
plug for the Democratic Senate candidate from New York,” he
quipped. Later, he added, “Her whole life has been an obsession
with the welfare and education of children.”